By Martin Atherton
Words fail me as a dismal Dons performance saw them fall to a 1-0 at the hands of Plymouth Argyle, a side who had lost their previous six coming into the game.
Ryan Hardie netted the only goal of the game late on, though truth be told the hosts could have been many clear by that point were it not for some woeful finishing.
Martin’s side failed to create much of note despite seeing the lion’s share of possession, Regan Poole seeing the best chance of the game but sending a weak effort at Palmer.
Argyle started far the dominant of the two, Blackpool loanee Ryan Hardie seeing an effort saved by Fisher before an acrobatic effort was cleared off of the line by Carlton Morris.
Returning midfielder Macleod was next to try his luck for the Greens, though fired somewhat wide of Fisher’s net.
Richard Keogh, called into action a number of times during the first half, took the ball forward from the back for the Dons’ first meaningful attack, but the defender was eventually penalised for rashly diving in on Aimson after losing the ball.
Against the run of play, it was Regan Poole who saw the best chance of the half shortly before the break – finding space through on goal after some good work from Fraser – but the Welsh U21s international sent a tame effort at Cooper in the Argyle net. HT 0-0.
Surman was introduced for Sørensen at the break as news broke on 3CR that Milton Keynes would become subject to further coronavirus restrictions over Christmas.
The Dons gave their fans something to cheer about, though, as they came back out from half-time a far more determined side. Fraser sent a ball crashing into the box, but it evaded everyone with Morris in an offside position.
But that positivity was short-lived as the hosts found themselves back in the game quickly. Welshman Jephcott had the best opportunity until then to fire past Fisher and open the scoring, however instead sent his effort crashing into the advertising board.
Argyle were not to be held out forever, though, as loanee Hardie eventually broke the deadlock after losing George Williams in the area to send an unstoppable effort into the net. 1-0 Argyle.
From there, the Dons’ heads dropped, and they struggled to get back into the game. A string of substitutions were made by Martin but failed to make much of an impact as his side limped into the final ten minutes.
Joe Mason, appearing against his boyhood club, struggled to get himself into the game upon his return.
Ste Walker created the best chance of the dying moments, drifting past his opposite number into the box, though the ‘Boro loanee refused to release the ball and was comfortably marshalled out. FT 1-0.
A disappointing afternoon for the Dons who failed to build on Tuesday’s good outing against Peterborough, instead falling to a miserable defeat in which they looked a shadow of their normal selves.
Whilst optimism was rampant just a few weeks ago after a promising win at Charlton, fans will now look nervously over their shoulders at the League One drop zone with the Dons just two points above the dreaded line – some teams below them also having as many as three games in hand over them. A home fixture against former manager Paul Tisdale beckons next week, a game in which the Dons really will be expected to put some more points on the board.
